Biogen could look to buy Vertex; Takeda cozies up to Boston biotechs;

@FierceBiotech: ICYMI yesterday: Failed Alzheimer's drug wins $117M in vTv's IPO. Article | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: 125 ex-$GSK R&D staffers in RTP face the ax--again (Great industry. Where else can you get fired twice in 8 months?) News | Follow @JohnCFierce

> Biogen ($BIIB), reeling after some commercial and clinical disappointments, may need to make a big acquisition to stay afloat, analysts say, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals ($VRTX) could be the ideal candidate. News

> Eisai has signed a deal with Halozyme ($HALO) to test whether the Japanese drugmaker's eribulin can treat advance breast cancer in combination with the latter company's PEGPH20. More

> Takeda, a Japanese company that recently appointed its first foreign CEO, is working to raise its profile in the Boston biotech scene. Story

Medical Device News

@FierceMedDev: FierceDiagnostics story: Foundation Medicine trips in Q2 with sluggish test reimbursement. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

@VarunSaxena2: ICYMI: NeuWave Medical gets FDA clearance for software upgrade to its ablation system. Report | Follow @VarunSaxena2

@EmilyWFierce: It's not a good week to be a drugmaker in Romania. More from FiercePharma | Follow @EmilyWFierce

> Upstart gets $6M to back the first FDA-cleared, OTC conception assistance device. Story

> Lombard Medical gains a second stent graft for aneurysm repair via $50M acquisition. Article

> CMS expands Medicare coverage of speech-generating devices. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: IDEXX shares climb on record diagnostics placements and Q2 earnings gain. FierceAnimalHealth story | Follow @FiercePharma

@EricPFierce: ICYMI from FiercePharmaManufacturing: As Hospira expands recall of ketorolac to 37M vials you've got to wonder what Pfizer thinks. Story | Follow @EricPFierce

@CarlyHFierce: Celgene fights for sanction on patent challenger Bass. More | Follow @CarlyHFierce

> GSK hiring 130 at inhaler facility, even as CRO axes up to 200 GSK alum. Report

> Romania launches bribery probe into 11 drugmakers. Article